T-Birds Trip up Tri-City
February 16, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Seattle Thunderbirds News Release
Kent, WA. - the Seattle Thunderbirds stretched their winning streak to five games with a 4-1 win over the Tri-City Americans Tuesday at the accesso ShoWare Center. Henrik Rybinski led the way with a goal and two assists as the T-birds stayed perfect in the month of February. The Thunderbirds are back in action Friday when they host the Spokane Chiefs at 7:05 p.m.
T-birds head coach Matt O'Dette like his team's effort. "With the travel day Sunday, coming from Victoria, the day off Monday, I thought we had a good response. I was really pleased with the way the guys played."
Indeed, Seattle outshot Tri-City 47-16. Americans' goalie Tomas Suchanek kept his team in the game with some top notch saves. O'Dette said the key for the T-birds was to keep shooting. "We had good shot volume. He made some ten bell saves, but we kept shooting. Sometimes, against a goalie like that, you have to work a little harder to score. I thought we did that."
Seattle (28-11-4-1) opened the scoring with a Jared Davidson power play goal at 7:49 of the first period, assisted by Henrik Rybinski and Reid Schaefer. It was Davidson's team leading 23rd goal of the season.
Tri-City began the second period with a power play chance of their own, but it was Seattle that would capitalize. While shorthanded the T-birds Nico Myatovic won a battle for the puck behind the Americans net and found Sam Popowich on the doorstep for the goal.
Myatovic says it's all part of his job as a penalty killer. "It was a bit of a foot race, and I was just hoping to bring some up ice pressure. I was able to strip the guy, protect it a little down low and then Poppy found that soft area and I was able to give it to him and he buried it." The goal, Popowich's sixth of the season, would stand up as the game winner.
The Thunderbirds added to their lead with a Jordan Gustafson goal at 11:43 of the third period, as he tipped in Kevin Korchinski's shot for his 18th of the season. Marc Lajoie, with an unassisted goal spoiled the shutout but Rybinski's empty netter sealed the win for the T-birds.
The T-birds now prepare for a pair of games on the weekend. In addition to the home game versus Spokane on Friday, Seattle travels down to Portland to face the Winterhawks on Saturday.
T-BIRDS EXTRAS
Rybinski pushed his points streak to nine games. He has 22 points over that span on nine goals and 13 assists.
Jeremy Hanzel has a seven-game point streak with 11 assists in those seven games.
Three T-birds have been selected to compete in the 2022 Kubota CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game, March 23rd in Kitchener, Ontario. Korchinski, Gustafson and Schaefer will participate in the event that showcases the top 40 CHL players eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft this summer.
Western Hockey League Stories from February 16, 2022
- Royals Release Statement Regarding 100% Capacity - Victoria Royals
- Mateychuk and Firkus Excited About Top Prospects Game Opportunity - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Gameday Preview - February 16 vs Brandon - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wheat Kings Trek Continues in Medicine Hat - Brandon Wheat Kings
- ICE Solidifying Atop National Honours - WHL
- Americans Defeated 4-1 by Thunderbirds - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors Fall 1-0 in a Shootout to Lethbridge on Tuesday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- T-Birds Trip up Tri-City - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Wheat Kings Win OT Thriller in Swift - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Broncos Comeback Falls Short in Overtime Loss to Brandon - Swift Current Broncos
- Winterhawks Pull Away from Chiefs in Third Period, 4-2 - Spokane Chiefs
- Hawks Return to Winning Form, Top Chiefs 4-2 in Spokane - Portland Winterhawks
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